I have a little secret to let you in on. It’s Friday! Oh, you already knew that huh? Well, take the fun out of it why don’t ya?!

I guess I will just have to let you in on some other secrets. And before you get your panties in a bunch – no, I’m not pregnant. Love my munchkins but do not want to add another to the bunch. These secrets are more news bites that I have to share with my blog or blogging in general. I have to blab these new discoveries to someone!

Some Updates Around FFF

I spent waaaaaayyyyy too much time in my life updating things on the ole blog last night. Peter & I worked hard to change my blog’s menu to include drop down menus and hopefully make things a little easier to navigate around here. I updated every. single. page! And my mind is still spinning. But it was worth it. Check out some of the goodies:

• New “Who’s Tina?” page
• Favorites Tab – with top posts separated by topic, the Self-Love Reflections, and even a brand spanking new Fave Blogs page
• brand new Body After Baby page with pictures of every month’s progress
• Fitness Tab – with a separate page for my workout calendar, strength training topics/plans, recaps of events (races & fitness competition), and more
• Recipes Tab – for easier navigation of my (few) recipes

Take a look around. Feel free to visit awhile. I would love to hear what you think!

The “Next” Button

I know I have mentioned it before, but this little button saves my blog reading life. I subscribe to more than my fair share of blogs. I also have less than my fair share of time to keep up with those blogs. Enter the “Next” button so I can scroll through leisurely and catch a wider variety of blogs and posts than simply clicking through my folders in Google Reader. AND it allows you to read the post on the person’s site.

To get the button – simply go to the “Goodies” tab on the “Manage Your Subscriptions” page. Scroll down and find the “Next” button. Drag it to your bookmarks bar. That’s it! Click and start reading.  

Picasa Rocks!

I will forever owe Courtney for sharing it with me. Free to download. Easy to use. It makes managing, organizing, and tweaking my photos ridiculously simple. How did I not know about this for so long? It would have made life soooo much better.

Preschool Means More Fun

It was tough to say goodbye at first but now I see how much Makenzie loves going to school. Plus, I can’t complain when it gives me more time to blog…only one of my favoritest things in the world. I now have the chance to write and post about things that I would normally have to push aside because they wouldn’t fit in with my other post topics. I hope you enjoy the change and getting to know more of the fun side of Tina.  

Stay Tuned for A Giveaway!

I have another giveaway for you all in this afternoon’s post. Just another way to say thank you for your unbelievably high cool factor. You want to stay tuned. There will be FIVE winners for some yummy goods.  

I hope you all have an excellent Friday!!!

• Any tools you recently discovered that you wish you knew about sooner?
• Any updates or things you would like to see around FFF?

Yet another day has just whizzed right on by in a whirlwind. I guess that happens when you hit the ground running every day. I woke up around 6 am as usual to have a bit of time to myself before the kids awoke. I got them all fed, cared for, and loved on before nabbing a quick snack for myself as I headed out the door to the gym.

I usually do my own weights routine on Thursday mornings, but today I wasn’t feeling it. I still wanted a challenging workout, but without having to think. Group Power class stepped in for me nicely.

Group Power is basically the same thing as Bodypump, but under a different training program. It goes through different music tracks that work each body part for a few minutes each in an endurance style weight lifting program.

After not visiting the class for months, the endurance style lifting came as quite a shock to the body. I’m used to doing 10-15 reps and moving to another exercise. Five minutes straight each of squats, shoulder exercises, push-ups, and bicep curls will get you good. I left with my upper body feeling like jelly! I always forget the challenge the class can give me. A great way to add a little variety and to take a break from my own plans.

Later in the day I excitedly met Peter for a mid-week lunch and play date.

Every Thursday Peter’s work provides a different lunch available to workers and their visitors. When Peter asked if I wanted to join him for the sandwiches and wraps on the menu today I looked at him like he had five heads. Does he not know me and my obsession with sandwiches and wraps? Sigh.  

Obviously I said yes so he got a couple plates to go for us to make a family date of it at a park just a few minutes from where he works. The weather was perfect to sit in the shade for our lunch and then to spend some time playing.

I had one half of a turkey, tomato, and lettuce spinach wrap as well as a half of a chicken salad and spinach sun-dried tomato wrap. With some Garden Salsa flavored Sun Chips – best flavor of them all! I also delighted in a bit of post-lunch dessert.

The brownie ended up being dry so I only ate the cookie. The heavenly, ooey-gooey cookie. All before hitting the playground for some fun!

I think this may have to become a new weekly tradition! We had such a great time and it was the perfect way to break up the week a bit.  

I got right back down to business when I got home and put the kids down for their naps. Then those two hours somehow passed in the blink of an eye. Yeesh. Story of my life these days. Blink. Blink. Blink. Oh…its 2189. What it feels like at least.

Now, I have to clean up dinner dishes before settling in for the night. Only to welcome the non-stop hectic again tomorrow! Good thing I thrive in that environment…and have God to help me through. But before I go – the Love Grown giveaway winner!

Carissa – Please email me with your full name and shipping information before Sunday at 6 PM EST to claim the prize pack! Congrats!  

• How do you like to break up the work week in a fun or relaxing way?
• If you didn’t win the Love Grown giveaway – stay tuned for more giveaway fun on the blog tomorrow!